Marijuana use has been one of the most discussed topics of the past few decades. Depending on who you ask, it’s either a completely safe drug that helps with pain relief or a dangerous gateway drug that needs to be controlled.
However, scientists have found a way to extract the CBD component of marijuana that allows people to get pain relief without the associated high. CBD candy is one of the many ways to ingest this chemical, but is it the most effective way?
How CBD Works
CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of the many chemical compounds found in both marijuana and hemp. This specific chemical acts as the part of marijuana that causes pain relief. It can also help treat various conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia.
CBD oil doesn’t contain THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, which produces a high. As such, a person can use CBD products without worrying about getting high or showing up in drug tests.
Cannabidiol works by interacting with the various receptors in a person’s nervous system. It has no history of abuse or potential to cause harm in its pure state.
However, CBD can cause specific side effects like any other drug. Users may experience dry mouth, diarrhea, and drowsiness. It can also have unintended interactions with other medications.
Benefits of CBD
Ask any medical marijuana user, and they’ll tell you all about the benefits of its use. Many of those benefits can be achieved solely by consuming the active CBD components inside marijuana. In fact, CBD oil is often prescribed as an anti-seizure medication.
The first main benefit is that cannabidiol oil is its availability. CBD products are legal in every state with some limitations, and you don’t need a prescription to acquire them.
Additionally, CBD is available for consumption in different forms. You can fill a vape pen with the oil, find CBD-infused candy, or ingest the oil in its raw form.
As with smoking marijuana, these products help relieve pain and reduce nausea. Some studies suggest it can also reduce symptoms of certain mental health disorders. Marijuana and CBD oil are often used to treat the various side effects of chemotherapy.
Does CBD Candy Work?
CBD candy comes in different forms, including CBD gummies, chocolate, and lollipops. However, there often comes up the question of whether or not the oil concentration is affected when put into such a small package.
Manufacturers claim that CBD gummies carry all the benefits of similar products in a more convenient and delicious package. This research is primarily done with pure CBD oil, though.
There is no scientific evidence that any CBD candy for sale works as advertised. With that said, these products do carry at the very least some trace amounts of CBD oil. If you’re particularly sensitive to the chemical or plan on eating a substantial amount of the candy, then you could potentially reap the expected benefits.
Negative CBD Candy Effects
Although CBD oil has beneficial qualities for users, CBD candy effects aren’t always positive. They don’t work as effectively as the raw oil, which means you’ll spend more money to get the same quality of pain relief. You can also expect all the negative traits of traditional candy.
For example, CBD lollipops are made almost entirely out of sugar and food coloring. While they also contain CBD, the sugar content can affect people with diabetes. Excess sugar intake is also the primary cause of cardiovascular disease.
Additionally, eating candy can create enamel-eating acids, attract bacteria, and cause your gums to recede. Having it once in a while is fine, but it shouldn’t be your primary way of ingesting CBD.
Hemp vs CBD Candies
Contrary to popular belief, the most common way to obtain CBD oil isn’t through marijuana but instead hemp. Hemp contains less THC than cannabis, and it’s legal to grow in more states.
However, CBD products made from hemp oil often have a much lower concentration than those sold at dispensaries. This is usually done to allow online retailers to stock a company’s product, regardless of a state’s marijuana legal status. A company may also substitute hemp oil, which is cheaper but does not carry the same qualities as CBD oil.
CBD oil requires a more complex and expensive process to obtain than hemp oil. As such, always be sure you’re getting the product from a reputable source such as a dispensary. You can never be one hundred percent sure that a product on Amazon is of good quality.
While at the dispensary, look at some of the other CBD products that may serve you better and more efficiently than CBD candies.
CBD Alternatives
Instead of purchasing CBD candy, try out one of the other items you can find online or at your local dispensary.
A CBD flower is much like marijuana, except it contains much less THC. They’re primarily smoked or vaped, but you can also use them in some of your homemade products like edibles or topicals.
Pre-made vape cartridges are also available and contain all kinds of cannabinoids and flavors. Or buy pre-rolled CBD hemp to light up later in the day.
If you intend to use CBD to treat a sore joint, consider buying cream or oil. Apply them directly to the tender area for quick spot treatment.
Skip Out on the Candy
When looking for new CBD products, it’s easy to get distracted by CBD candy. Everyone loves candy, and it’s an excellent, discreet way to get your pain relief without drawing attention to yourself.
However, candy isn’t the healthiest option, and it’s easy for a child to mistake your “medication” for a tasty snack. Instead, ingest the CBD oil directly for the best results, either through a tincture or a vape pen.